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Not Digging the Divina

Sail Date:
January 2014

Destination:
Western Caribbean

Embarkation:
Miami

My husband and I sailed on the Divina for the 12th Jam Cruise. The fact that the ship was a charter for Cloud9 might have some bearing on our experiences, so keep that in mind. The actual boat is lovely, the cabins well-organized and spacious for a ship. Nevertheless, the Divina delivered some major disappointments.

As others have noted, the food is mediocre at best. Even in the dining room, most entrees were tepid, vegetables gelatinous, and desserts bland. It was very difficult to get the dining room staff to refill water glasses or revisit the table at all. The lack of variety was astonishing, as was the frequency with which the buffet ran out of essentials like coffee, coffee creamer, and cream cheese. The dining staff, most of whom speak little or no English, are friendly in an uncomprehending sort of way--smiling and nodding but clearly not understanding our requests.

The cabin attendant was also an issue for us. After introducing herself the first night, and More
receiving a huge tip for bringing us ice, she disappeared, and we very literally did not see her for the rest of the voyage. Twice we had to call guest services to ask for clean towels. Our room was tidied each day, but often it would be evening before that happened.

Finally, the pool, spa, and exercise facility staff could best be described as "haughty," bordering on rude. Pool towels were at a premium for the entire trip, so much so that when we actually managed to get two (on day four) we kept them with us and dried them ourselves. The hot tubs were either full of humans or full of debris (cups, drink glasses, and in one memorable case, a partially full bottle of champagne). The outside hot tubs were tepid rather than warm, and one evening, we actually cleaned the one on the top deck above the disco ourselves.

We love Jam Cruise and the vibe it creates, and the Divina was great for that. The midship pool deck made a fantastic dance floor, and the theatre was also a wonderful space for listening to music. Still, if Jam Cruise is going to stay on the Divina, it would be nice to know that the lackluster food and service will be improved to match the setting. Less

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Cabin review:

Love the cabin design. The bed was comfortable, the mirrors make the space look larger, and the balcony is great. The colors are elegant and refined, and the cabin as a whole makes a guest feel snug and pampered.